Crane



Patented Sept. 27, 1927.

unirsi), STATES eATnNr einen.,

LEONARD D. NILSON, OF WAYZATA, MINNESOTA, ASSIG-NOR T0 MARQUETTE vMANU'- rne'runne COMPANY, or sr. PAUL, iuiivnnsora,

SOTA.

Application ined 'November This invention relates to new and useful improvements in cranes, generally, and more particularly relates to cranes of the* portable type adapted to be mounted upon the rear portion of an automobile truck or other vehicle to be used as a wrecking crane for towing or lifting wreckedautomobiles, or other vehicles. n y

in object of the invention is to provide a crane having the guide sheave at the upper end thereof so mounted in a swivel headrtliat the pull chain or cable passing thereover may be secured to a load from any anglers gardless of the position of the crane.

A further object' of the invention is to provide a wrecking crane having the upper guide sheave mounted in a swivel head so` constructed that the'pull chain or cable may be readily disconnected therefrom withoutl disconnecting the chain fro-in the windingk drinn or lead, thereby permitting the crane to be used as a winch and a direct pull on the load affected which is desirable when towing orpulling a wrecked automobile or other load up over an embankment, or out of .a

ind hole or ditch. j

il further object is to provide acrane hav@ ing the winding drum mounted directly up on the drive .shaft and adapted to be operatively connected therewith by means of an epicyclic gear mechanism preferably' mount? ed at one end of the drum, whereby a rela-` tively high speed ratio may be obtained between the winding drum and the driving shaft,v thereby greatly increasing the leven.

of pull upon the chain or cable, said ieclianism also being provided with means positively locking the drum to the shaft 'loi rotation as a unit tlierewitli,a desirable e when winding up the chain or unwincing it.

rllie particular object of the invention., therefore is to provide a wrecking crane of simple and inexpensive construction whichiiiay be use-el either for lifting or as a winch,y and having boom adjustably mounted upon its supporting members so that any desired degree of overhang of the lifting chain may be obtained. y

@ther objects of the invention will appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings and will Abe pointed out in the annexed claims. i f

ln the drawings there has been disclosed a n conronnrion or MINNE- onANn.

2, 1925. Serial No. 6G,308.

structure designed to carry out the various `object-s of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not conned to' the exact features shown,` as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims vwhich follow.

ln the accompanying drawings part of this speeilication;

Fieure 1 is a perspective view of the improved crane; y

Figure 2 is anenlarged detail sectional view showing the general construction of the forming winding drum and the means for operatively connecting it to thev drive shaft;

k'Figure 3 is a vert-icalsectional viewon the line 3-8 of Figure 2; v

Figure t isa detail sectional view showing the means provided for' locking the winding ldrum to the drive shaft for rotation asa unit therewith; .i

1' Figure isa detailsectional view onthe line 5 5 of Figure 2; 1 Y I Figure 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view showingthe general construction ofthe swivel head at .theupper end of theboom;

Figure .7 is a detail sectional view on the line 1I-7 =of Figure 6; and o Figure 8 is a detail sectional view show yingliow the lifting chain or cable is discon# nected fromv ythe guide'sheave at the upper .fend of the boom.7 i

The ,novelcrane shown in this invention comprises lower supporting members ll'having` upright members 12 'of the boom piv0tally connected thereto by such meansas the bolts 13. Adjustablebraces 14 'conn-ect the upper ends ofthe boomuprights 12 with the opposite ends of the supporting members 11.

Eachbrace/.lll iis preferably made of two V sections having a plurality of apertures. 15

Vthrough whiclibolts l'are linserted forse-` curing together the two sections. By this novel construction, the angle of the boom may be relatively adjusted to obtain the de- Y sired degree of overhang of the'lifting chain or cable. The lower ends ofthe boom upyrights -12' areltied together by means of a cross member l? and the' su a aortino mem-- bers 11 are llikewise spaced apart by a suitable spacing'member 18v interposed there-` between and havinga tie bolt or rod 19 securing together the `braces 1li, supporting members 11 and the spacing membery 18. Suitable apertur`es'21 arealso providedv in sides in the novel construction of the swivel headprovided in the upper end of the boom for support-ing the guide sheave 23 over whichthe liftingl chain 'or cable 20 passes when the crane is used for lifting a load. This novel head comprises a forked socket member 24 secured to the upper end portion of the boom uprights 12 by suitable means.

such as bolts or screws 25 (see Figure 7). VSpaced lugs 26 are formed on the socket member 24 to receive the upper ends of the braces 14 secured thereto by a bolt 27. The sheave 23 is mounted in a forked member -28 having a cylindrical portion 29 rotatably mounted in the socket member or head 24. The forked end of the member 28 is offset as shown in the drawings, so that the chain depending therefrom will clear the boom when the crane is being used for lifting a load'aii-d when the chain is in the position shown in Figure l. Oneside ofthe cylindricalportion 29 of the forked member 28 is provided with an elongated opening 32 extending the full length thereof adapted to be moved into alignment with va similar opening or slot 33 provided in thehead 24 between a pair of spaced lugs 34. The lugs 34 are apertured to receive a bolt 35 for securing the elevis 36 thereto. A suitable hook Y 37 is secured to the end of the chain 24 to provide 4means for detacliably `securing` the end of the chain to the clevis 36'01" for connecting the chain to agload when the crane is being used as a winch andv a direct pull ontheload is desired. A chain guide 38 is mounted upon the forked :member 28 to guide the chainontothe sheave 23 when the crane is lifting a load," should the loadwbe slightly out of alignment with the sheave 23. This guide may be supportedby a pin or bolt 39 upon which the `slieave23 is mounted. i i y By means of the elongatedl openings 32 ,and 33 iii the head 24 and the cylindrical end portion 29, the chain may be readily disconnected from the upper end of theboom` without the use of tools7 when it is desired toobtain a direct pull from kthe drum to the `load in pulling` a wreckedcar or other load over `an embankment or out of a mudhole or ditch4 To disconnect the chain `from the sheave 23 and head 24, the forked member 28. will be rotatedfrom the position shown in `liigui'es land G, t0 that shown in Figure 8 and then the elongated openings or slots 32 and 33 willbe in alignment yor registration with each other so that by removing the pin 35 the chain may be removed from the hea-dtlirough the aligned slots 32 and 33 `stalled in a mudholez y fore, adapted for lifting purposeswhen the boom is utilized `and may be quickly e-on-VV as shownin Figure 7. The guide 28 is also provided on one side ,with a slot 4l so thatv the chain may be removed therefrom. The relative positions of the slots 32 and 33 are such that when theforked member 28 is in normal position, as shown in Figures l, 6 and 7, they will be substantially 180o apart, thereby providing 4a cylindrical guide through the head for the chain and at the saine time a swivel support for the sheave 23 to permit the sheave to adapt itself to 4any angularity or side pull of the chain with relation to the truck upon which the crane is mounted. Referring particularly to Figure (i, it will be noted that the sheave 23 at the upper end of the boom is arranged to cause the chain section between it and the drum totravel substantially in axial alignment with the airis of the swivel head, thereby permitting the sheave to readily adjustV indicated by .dotted lines in Figure l, the

cable having been separatedfrom the sheave by moving it laterally throughthe slotted openings in the supports of the sheave, can be extended directly to theload for a direct `pull from the drum thereon, therload being usually a car or truck in a ditch or one The crane is, thereverted `into a device for use as a winch or windlass when a direct pull is to be applied to theload, When the crane is used for lifting, as shown in Figure l, a tackle block 42 is preferably mounted upon the chain toincrease the leverage or pull upon the load.

v A winding drum 43 is rotatably mounted upon ai drive shaft 44, having an operating crank40 secured to one end thereof. This shaft is mounted in'siiitable -anti-i`rietion bearings 45 and 46 secured to th e boom up- `rights 12 by brackets 47. These bearings ai'e i preferably mounted Vin the brackets 47 in such ainanneras to be self-aligning, thereby preventing any possibility of the shaft bindics i iii) ing in ,the bearings ras a result of yielding Y of the boom and frame` structure Vunder a heavy load. The drum is aisomounted upon the shaft in suitable roller bearings 48 to minimize friction.4

in` structures of this type', it is desirable to provide means for increasing the lever age or pull upon the cable or chain so that `extremely lieavyloads may be pulled'or lifted with a minimum amount ofexertion on the part ofthe operator, cranes of this `type being usually liaiideoperated. Means aretherefore `provided for effecting a relatively high speed ratio between the winding drum and the drive shaft 44 which is so con structed that it may be readily rendered inoperative and the drum rotated directly gear and having a lug 56 between whichr gear 49 and the hub ofthe eccentric 51 to reduce friction. The gear. 49 is ladapted to mesh with an internal gear 54 secured to' one end of the winding drun'i43 as particularly shown in Figures 9. and 4.. The gear is also of arelativelysmallerdiameter than the internal gear 54, as shown in FiguresQ and 3, which *diameter is def pendent upon the .size of the eccentric and the desired lspeed ratio required betweenthe rdrum and the drive shaft 44. lWhen it is desired. to rotate they drum 43 at a relatively slow speed, as in pulling a heavy load, the

gear 49 will beiloclred against relative ro-.V

tation so that as the shaft, andftherefore the eccentric 51, is rotated, tlie'gear 49 will have an epicyclio motion asa result of being mounted upon the eccentric and being locked against rotation. Such epicyclic motion of the gear 49 will cause the drum 43 to beA rotated a fraction of a` revolution dependent upon the difference between the number of teeth in the epicyclic gear 49 and the internal gear 54. For instance,y should the epicyclic gear 49 have 42 teeth and the internal gear have 44 teeth, then for each revolution of the drive slia'l'tr44, the drum 43 would be rotated a fractionof a revolution equal to the spacing between two of its teeth.

.hie-ans are therefore .provi led the gear 49 against rotation to elfectsuch relative rotation of the drum witlirespect to the shaft. sists of a latch pivotally mounted in the and a portion of the gear 49 compression spring is `mounted adapted to normally inove the latch into locking engagement with one of series of notches 58 provided in au annular flange 59 integrallyfformed` preferably with one end ofthe eccentric 51.`

A hand lever G1 is provided on the latch 55 whereby the latch may vbe manuallylmoved out of lockingl engagement with they flange 59. A stud G2, having a flanged head 63, is mounted in one sine of a cover plate '64 which preferably has acentral hub integrally formed with the bearing46support- 60 is mounted upon the stud 62 and adapted to be engaged bythe handlever 61 when, the external gear-.49 is locked against rota# for rotating the stud: and the headfB. When` for locking Such means preferably con-1` ing one end of the drive shaft 44.- A roller the latch 55.is moved out of locking engagement Awith the flange 59-of the eccentric and the lever 61 is moved into engagement with the roller 60 on the stud 62, the lepicyclic gear 49 will be locked against rotation, thereby causing the drum 43 to rotate atarelatively :slow speed when the shaft 44 is rotated. Suitable lugs*` 67 are preferably v provided in the cover plate (34;between which the lever (51 is located when in the position above described. rlliese lugs and the roller (il) function to positively lock thelatcli, and therefore the gear 49, against rotation when thedrum is operating at arelatively slow speed. lhen the .latch is thus positioned and the shaft 44 is being rotatedythere will be a slight reciprocal movement of the hand lever. v51 against the roller. GOcaused by the epicyclic movement of the external gear 49. A spring bolt 68 isprovided in the hand grip (36 to lock the stud 62 in its adjusted positions. The, ilanged'head 63 of the stud o2 is preferably cutaway on one side as shown at 'o9 in Figure `3,)so that whenl the' stud is `rotated substantially a quarter of a revolution (or until the cut-away portion 69l is substantially` parallel with the hand lever 61) the latter will be moved .to the lposition shown in ligure 4 by the action A ratchet 71 is preferably.provided,y on the outer face of the intei1ialgeai- 54 adapted to be engaged by a. spring bolt- 72 as shown Figures .2 land 5. The .purpose of this ratchet' device is to prevent the. druml from unwinding when lifting or pullingV a load, especially if'the `chain is pulling directly from the drum. A compression spring 73 is coiled about the reduced portion 74 of the bolt'72 andis seated kin a bore.

provided ina hub 75 inl the cover plate G4. This spring functions to normally move the bolt 7 2 into engagement with the ratchet 71.

A pin 7 6 is mounted inthe reducedportion 74 of 'the bolt adaptedto be received in a slot 77 provided in the hub 75 of the cover plate 64. This .pin functions to retain the bolt 72 in proper alignment with the ratchet 71 and also to retain the .bolt vin inoperative` position when unwindiiig the drumy as Vindicated bydotted lines in Figure; The foregoing described mechanism rprovidesn means .for internally lockinguthe external gear so that thefdrive and strain thereon will be out-v ward and appliedto the gear'near the center thereof, and there will be no peripheral strain on the gear by-the application of the lock. .I thus eliminate to. a considerable degree the danger ofbrealrage..V

In the operation Aof this .novel crane. the i chain-20, will; normally be inthe position shown in Figure 1, the position mo'stfrequently employed inf lifting or towing wrecked cars; l/Vhen it is desired to `secure the chain to a load, the handle 6l of the latch Will be released from the flanged head 63 of theboltGQ, and the bolt 72V disengaged from the teeth 71, thereby permitting the drum to berotated at a relatively high rate of speed, as it will rotate directl .moved from the position shown in Figure 4 to that shown in Figure 2, thereby locking the external gear 49 against relative rotation, and causing it to have an epicyclic movement as a result of its eccentric mounting upon the shaft 44. Such` movement of Vthe gear 49 will cause the drum 43 to be rotatedin the same direction at relatively slower speed. By the employment of the ratchet-71 and spring bolt 72, the load may be suspended in midair, or, at any desired y point without danger of accidentally becoming Y disconnected from Vthe crane.

Should it be desired to operate the chain 24 directly from the drum as whenpulling or towing an automobile orlother` load up over an embankment, then the chain may Y readily be disconnected fromthe swivel-head at the upper end of the boom as hereinbefore described, after which it may be connected directly to the load and a directpull exerted thereon; (See dotted lines, Figure 2.) This novel crane is therefore well adapted for use in connection with garages and repair shops for towing in wrecked cars,"tr`ucks,

p and the like. It may also be` used Vfor pulling vehicles out of themud `or a ditch andv for various other purposes without depart- Lingr from theinvention. t

I claim as my invention:

l. A winding apparatus Vcomprising a drum, an internal gear thereon, a drive shaft,

an external gear arranged to mesh with the", y

' 4withl said internal gear, :a lever member teeth of said internal gear,` means for oper-v ating` said external gear from saidshaft, and` means internally arranged with respect to said external ing means.

2. A `Winding apparatus comprising iir combination, a drum, Van internal gear sercured thereto, an eccentrically and loosely i lock it for transmission of power from saidexternal gear to said internal gear. c

Y``V3. A winding apparatus comprising VinA gear for lockingit to said driv-` i ternal gear, a lever mechanism tending nor-` y mally to'lock said external gear to said eccentric for rotation as a unit therewith, and means for holding said lever mechanism out of engagement with said eccentric to prevent the rotationof said external gear, thereby causing said drum to be rotated at alrelatively slower speed than said shaft.

4. A winding apparatus comprising in combination, a shaft, a drum rotatably mounted thereon, an internal gear secured to said drum, an eccentric having a plurality of notchessecured to said shaft, an external gear loosely ymounted onj said eccentric, a locking member on said external gear adapt` ed to engage said notches and astop adapted toengage said locking member .to hold said external gear against rotation when said shaft is rotated, thereby causing said drum to be rotated at a relatively slower speed than said shaft. i

5. A winding apparatus comprising in combination a drive shaft, a Winding drum rotatably mounted thereon, an internal gear on said drum, an .external gear in mesh therewith, an eccentric supporting said external gear, a pivoted lever member mounted on said external gear, a stationary stop, said lever member havinganV arm adapted to be moved into engagement with said stop to cause said external gear to impart a relative* ly slow rotary motion to said internal gear whenV said shaftis rotated, said arm when movedout of engagement with said station ary stop and said lever memberis engaged with said eccentric locking `said winding.

drum `to said` drive shaft unit therewithf Il.. A, i

`6; A winding `apparatus comprising in combination a drivelshaft, a winding, drum rotatably `mounted thereon, 1a supporting for rotation as a `external gear mounted for relative rotation thereon,.andadaptedto be inconstant mesh slow rotaryfmotion to saidinternal gear andsaid winding drum. l

7. A support, a shaft `journaled therein, drumv upon theA shaft .having `an internal f means for said shaft, an internal gear on one t gear, an external gear meshing with the internal gear, said external gear being` eccentrically mounted upon the shaft, and a latch carried by the external gear, and alternately engageable With the shaft and support for the purpose set forth.

8. A support, a shaft journaled therein, a drum upon the shaft having an internal gear, an external gear meshing with the internal gear, said external gear :being eccentrically mounted upon the shaft, and a latch carried by the external gear, and alternately en gageable With the shaft and support for the purpose set forth, said latch being Within the external gear. v

9. A support, a shaft journaled therein, a drum upon the shaft having an internalv gear,

an external gear meshing with the internal gear, said external gear being eccentrically mounted upon the shaft, and a latch carried by the external gear, and alternately engageable With the shaft and support for the purpose set forth, said latch being Within the external gear and being protectingly 1nclosed between said gear and said support.

10. A support, a shaft journaled therein, a drum upon the shaft having an internal gear, an external gear meshingwvith the indrum upon the shaft having an internal gear, an external gear meshing With the internal gear, said external gear being eccentrically mounted upon the shaft, and a latch carried b-y the external gear, and alternately engageable with the shaft and support for the purpose set forth, said internal gear being arranged at one end of the drum.

l2. A support, a shaft journaled therein, a drum upon the shaft having an internal gear, an external gear meshing With the internal gear, said external gear being eccentrically mounted upon the shaft, and a latch carried by the external gea-r, and alternate ly engageable with they shaft and support for the purpose set forth, and additional means for locking the drum to the support.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my handthis 31st day of October v1925.

LEONARD D. NILSON. 

